Above: The looted convenience store of Hai Pham, New Orleans
Remember those television images of New Orleans looting during Katrina? This judge says he wants to send a message:
Post-Katrina looting gets trio long jail stay
KENNER, La. (AP) — Three people convicted of hauling away liquor, wine and beer from a grocery store after Hurricane Katrina were sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in prison.
The judge said he wanted to send a message that looting would not be tolerated when he gave the maximum sentence to Coralnelle Little, 36, Rhonda McGowen, 42, and Paul C. Pearson, 36, all of Kenner.
They were convicted of attempting to leave the grocery with 27 bottles of liquor and wine, six cases of beer and one case of wine coolers, six days after Katrina made landfall.
Defense attorneys for the three called the sentences excessive and said they would appeal.
